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Monday, November 12, 2012

Saluting All Veterans

Gay Central Valley proudly salutes all the men and women who have and are serving our country on Veteran's Day, 2012. Following is the President's Veteran's Day 2012 Statement...

VETERANS DAY, 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Whether
they fought in Salerno or Samarra, Heartbreak Ridge or Helmand, Khe Sanh or the
Korengal, our veterans are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have
served our country with honor and distinction. On Veterans Day, we show them
our deepest thanks. Their sacrifices have helped secure more than two centuries
of American progress, and their legacy affirms that no matter what confronts us
or what trials we face, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, and our best
days are still ahead.

This
year, we marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. We began to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. We welcomed our veterans
back home from Iraq, and we con­tinued to wind down operations in Afghanistan.
These milestones remind us that, though much has changed since Americans first
took up arms to advance freedom’s cause, the spirit that moved our fore­bears
is the same spirit that has defined each generation of our service members. Our
men and women in uniform have taught us about strength, duty, devotion,
resolve—cornerstones of a commitment to protect and defend that has kept our
country safe for over 200 years. In war and in peace, their service has been
selfless and their accomplishments have been extraordinary.

Even
after our veterans take off the uniform, they never stop serving. Many apply
the skills and experi­ence they developed on the battlefield to a life of
service here at home. They take on roles in their com­munities as doctors and
police officers, engineers and entrepreneurs, mothers and fathers. As a
grateful Nation, it is our task to make that transition possible—to ensure our
returning heroes can share in the opportunities they have given so much to
defend. The freedoms we cherish endure because of their service and sacrifice,
and our country must strive to honor our veterans by fulfilling our
responsibilities to them and upholding the sacred trust we share with all who
have served.

On
days like this, we are called to reflect on immeasurable burdens that have been
borne by so few. We pay tribute to our wounded, our missing, our fallen, and
their families—men and women who have known the true costs of conflict and
deserve our deepest respect, now and forever. We also remember that our
commitments to those who have served are commitments we must honor not only on
Veterans Day, but every day. As we do so, let us reaffirm our promise that when
our troops finish their tours of duty, they come home to an America that gives
them the benefits they have earned, the care they deserve, and the fullest
opportunity to keep their families strong and our country moving forward.

With respect for and in recognition of the
contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom
around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11
of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s
veterans.

NOW,
THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do
hereby pro­claim November 11, 2012, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans
to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public
ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials
to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic
activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and
fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support
this day with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.